Lamar County Historical Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lamar County Historical Museum

Exterior of the Lamar County Historical Museum
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Location	Paris, Texas
Type	Local history museum

The Lamar County Historical Museum is a special place in Paris, Texas. It's a history museum that tells the story of Lamar County, Texas and the city of Paris. You can find it on West Kaufman Street, in a spot called Heritage Park. The Lamar County Historical Society runs the museum. It's open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. You don't have to pay to get in, but they do welcome donations to help keep it going.

The idea for the museum came from William Hayden. He was a kind person who loved art and helped his community. Many helpful volunteers work at the museum. It has six main areas, called galleries, and a section about old-fashioned country life. There are also special exhibits that change over time.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum has many cool historical items. You can see a collection of over 200 old postcards. There's also a display of shoes from different times. Entire rooms are set up to show what life was like in Paris before a big fire in 1916. Other rooms focus on the county's African American heritage and military history.

Exploring History Through Exhibits

The museum also shares stories about other big events. It covers an earlier fire in 1877. You can also learn about a tornado that hit in 1982. The collections show both very old and more recent history. For example, you can see the Biard Cabin, which was built way back in 1846. There are also recreated rooms like a pioneer kitchen and a blacksmith shop.

Everyday Items from the Past

You might be surprised by some of the items on display. The museum has an old menu from a Sonic Drive-In. There's also a bright neon sign from Staples Jewelry. Other interesting things include furniture from the early 1900s. You can also see antique washing machines and a loom. A loom is a machine used to weave cloth.

Farming and Community Life

The museum also shows tools used for farming cotton and hay. You can see items from the Buckner Orphanage. This orphanage was a home for children and was taken down in 2000. There's also a part of the Judge Jim Noble Thompson Portico facade. This is a fancy front part of an old building. You can even see an iron lung, which was a machine that helped people breathe. One gallery focuses on the smaller towns and communities in Lamar County.

Gallery

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  Interior

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  Searight buggy

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  Swaim rooms

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  Biard Cabin

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  Blacksmith shop

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  Pioneer kitchen